Forest and Conservation Workers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for forest and conservation workers in the U.S. is $43,680 ($21.00 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $43,680
- Mean annual wage
- $43,680
- Median hourly wage
- $21.00
- Employment
- 6,050
6,050 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $33,780 | $16.24 |
| 25th percentile | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Median (50th) | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| 75th percentile | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| 90th percentile | $57,220 | $27.51 |
Highest-paying states for forest and conservation workers
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho | $59,460 | — |
| Hawaii | $56,330 | 60 |
| Virginia | $54,560 | — |
| Massachusetts | $51,890 | 120 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,250 | 210 |
| Ohio | $48,470 | 160 |
| Arkansas | $47,310 | 30 |
| Oregon | $46,010 | 70 |
| Washington | $44,430 | 460 |
| South Carolina | $44,050 | 40 |
Lowest-paying states
- Texas: $30,470 median annual wage
- Montana: $32,600 median annual wage
- Iowa: $33,600 median annual wage
- Connecticut: $34,010 median annual wage
- Georgia: $34,150 median annual wage
About this occupation
Under supervision, perform manual labor necessary to develop, maintain, or protect areas such as forests, forested areas, woodlands, wetlands, and rangelands through such activities as raising and transporting seedlings; combating insects, pests, and diseases harmful to plant life; and building structures to control water, erosion, and leaching of soil. Includes forester aides, seedling pullers, tree planters, and gatherers of nontimber forestry products such as pine straw.
Typical tasks
- Confer with other workers to discuss issues, such as safety, cutting heights, or work needs.
- Check equipment to ensure that it is operating properly.
- Perform fire protection or suppression duties, such as constructing fire breaks or disposing of brush.
- Fight forest fires or perform prescribed burning tasks under the direction of fire suppression officers or forestry technicians.
- Identify diseased or undesirable trees and remove them, using power saws or hand saws.
- Prune or shear tree tops or limbs to control growth, increase density, or improve shape.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 14.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 39.2% |
| Some college, no degree | 14.4% |
| Associate's degree | 8.1% |
| Bachelor's degree | 19.5% |
| Master's degree | 3.4% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 1.1% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$35,660
- Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$36,670
- Agricultural Equipment Operators$41,730
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$59,320
- Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products$35,730
- Logging Equipment Operators$49,740
- Agricultural Inspectors$49,940
- Agricultural Workers, All Other$39,850
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.